Occurrence, Levels and Spatial Distribution of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers: Case Study of Elemi River in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were seasonally determined in water and sediments of the Elemi River, Nigeria using gas chromatography analysis. Samples were collected in two consecutive seasons for six months, monitoring the program every month. Three BDEs congeners (28, 47 and 154) were only detected with the mean concentration of ND - 0.001 µg/L and ND - 0.143 µg/kg in water and sediments, respectively. BDEs (99, 100, 153, 183 and 209) were consistently absent in both seasons. The distribution of BDEs showed that BDE 28 was consistently found in the water samples throughout the months of sampling, while the sediments sparingly contained BDE 28 and 47. The study proposed the need for effective measures to reduce the deleterious contribution of these persistent compounds into the rivers.